Sunday, November 6, 2016

It's a Wonderful Life

2016 Update: I rarely re-post old blog posts. I'm all about fresh, new content. But this, I feel, needs to be re-posted yearly. This is a post I originally posted in 2014, and I like to bring it back the first Sunday in November, before we jump into the Most Wonderful Time of the year.

I've felt compelled to write this blog post for a few weeks now as the holiday season quickly approaches. I'm the holiday season's biggest fan. Christmas music (so much Frank Sinatra), holiday movies (Eloise and Home Alone), advent calendars, shopping, parties, food, cocktails (ahem, all the champs), so much plaid, bows, twinkle lights, party dresses, etc. To me, it really is the most wonderful time of the year!

In the blogging world, I especially love seeing blogger's gift guides and the fabulous holiday outfits on so many different blogs. All of these amazing women (and men) are offering up some really great ideas and inspiration.

I have some really fun things planned on Summer Wind for the holiday season, too, and hope you'll follow along as I share. A handful of gift guides, some holiday party outfit inspiration, my favorite holiday traditions, etc. But before I get into fully embracing the season (it's not even Thanksgiving, yet!!), I want to pause and reflect.

This is a sweeping generalization, but blogging, over the years, has become much less of a personal diary. But, I believe, it's for good reason. I personally try to stay away from overly personal posts because I register that my audience encompasses, bosses, coworkers, grandparents, old teachers, etc. As well as it is best for my safety to leave very personal information off of the internet!

Anyways, I get a lot of questions from those who read my blog about how I am always 'so optimistic'. Often, I am asked how I 'have it all together'. It's truly flattering. And truth be told, I really am a pretty happy person. But at the same time, I certainly do not have it all together!

With the holiday season, it can be easy to compare yourselves to others and get caught up in the gift guides, how to make the perfect holiday cookies, what to wear to your next holiday soiree or where to fly off to ring in the New Year.

Regardless of your religious beliefs, the overall season is supposed to bring people together and unite those in happiness, love, and celebration... as cliche as that sounds.

I know, personally, having all of my beloved friends and families close by makes me feel so 'full' of love. It's cheesy but true. So when people ask me how I am always so happy? Here's how: I let the gift guides fall to the wayside, I eat my imperfect holiday cookies and I wear my uggs around my house with my cocktail dress before throwing on my heels to go to the party (#guilty).

I also spend time with my loved ones. When I see strangers on the street, I give them an extra big smile-- I make a conscientious effort to try and brighten every single person's day, because that is what this season is all about. Let others know how important they are to you and how much they mean to you.

That is what you will remember years from now, not the gifts or the cocktails or the perfect table settings. Your life is only wonderful if you choose to acknowledge that it is. One of my goals with Summer Wind is to bring happiness to others, so I hope no matter what your situation this holiday season, you can join me and find reason to believe it really is a Wonderful Life!

8 comments:

This is such a great post. I kind of dread reading many blogs during the holidays because they start to portray the same commercialism that's shoved down our throats at the mall and on TV ads. I love the sparkly aspects of the holidays as much as the next 24 year old female, but sometimes it's hard to get through the season when you feel inadequate for not buying all your friends Kate Spade baubles and throwing a Pinterest-perfect holiday fete! Thank you for the reminder of what this time of year should really be about, both in the real world AND the blogging one. Enjoy it!

I totally agree that there has to be an appropriate line in what you share on social media. My general rule is I never post anything I wouldn't be comfortable with my co-workers reading. However, I do enjoy when bloggers post more "real" posts about their daily lives. I think you strike a nice balance between posting fashion inspiration and also sharing who you are! It's definitely a great message to keep things in perspective during the Holidays; blogs are like magazines and no one is dressed in the perfect Holiday outfit all the time!